Mon. – 1/26 Happy National Happy Smiling Nut Day

January 26 is National Pistachio Day; the Chinese call the pistachio the happy nut; in Iran, it’s called the smiling nut. So happy national happy smiling nut day, you mighty nutty queerfitters…no better way to celebrate than with…squats.

How’d you know?

Every other day, we’ve been doing lots of squats. It’s starting to feel like the normal thing to do, isn’t it? Let’s step things up today, to give some respect to the pistachio, to yourself, and to the AMAZING week you’re about to have. We’re doing 5 sets of 20 weighted squats, using the weight of your choice. You should do these throughout the day, using a variety of weights. You can hold the weight close to your chest or, if you have experience in a good overhead squat, you can go overhead. Some options for close to your chest: a small child, your dog, a gallon of milk, a bag of dog food, bag of laundry, a heavy purse, a rock, your backpack. Overhead, you can hoist an office chair, a broomstick, a small child, your dog, two gallons of milk…

Let us know your five objects. For the pistachios! For you! For the awesome week ahead!

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27 responses to “Mon. – 1/26 Happy National Happy Smiling Nut Day”

Well…I got in 90 squats before time to see the knee doc. She says no more squats, lunges, or burpees until I get things aright. Gave me a bunch of exercises to strengthen muscles on the inside of my knees, as well as a ‘scrip for PT. So I’ll substitute those exercises–or any that any of you wonderful coaches can suggest. Problem is old age loss of cartilage and outer leg/thigh muscles being stronger and pulling the patellas slightly off.

Cindy – I had that exact problem with my outer quad being stronger than my inner quad and pulling my patella out of alignment. It was so bad I couldn’t even walk – seriously, and I was only 25 at the time. But I went to PT, kept at the quad strengthening exercises (that I do til this day), bought a foam roller and worked out my iliotibial band, and can now squat with the best of them (icing afterwards, of course). So I think this is wonderful! You have nothing but stronger quads and healthy knees ahead of you. 🙂

Thanks, Glo! That’s just the kind of encouragement I need. If you don’t mind, I’ll bring the exercises with me tonight–maybe you can tell me which ones are the best. If I never squat again, um, Queerfittingly, that is, I won’t mind. But I definitely want to be able to race up to my third-floor classroom with satchel and coffee in hand without grimacing all the way…

Thanks, Shae! And true that–KungLi is not only a magnificent writer (in my not-so-humble opinion), a delicious human, and a rad leader, but also one helleracious trainer. She’ll probably have me doing chin-ups with my pinkies.

Boring old dumbbells for me, too – 1st set of 20 w/10 lbs. on shoulders, 2nd set with 10 + 6lbs. on each side–several hours later, 3rd set w/10 lbs. on shoulders again, 4th set with dumbbells vertical, chest high (knees touching quads) & 5th set w/a twist for obliques.

Done! It was fun trying to think of what I could squat with in my moms tiny studio, so here’s what I found: 1 set with a 4 gallon jug that we guesstimated was about a gallon, another with a full trash can, another with the gallon jug in one arm & suavitel (softener) in the other, then switched arms at 10, one set overhead with 4 yearbooks + big vegetarian cookbook, and final set with her bike!!! (took small break in between 10)